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by Gary Rue
garyrue@bellsouth.net
 

NOTE:  Gary did not write these exercises and tips with the idea that someone would publish them.  I subscribe to the Soccer-Coach-L e-mail list and Gary is one of the coaches that posts extremely well thought out replies.  These are some of Gary's posts that I collected for use in coaching my own teams.   I approached Gary and he was gracious enough to allow me to publish them here.  If you like what you see or have a question about one of the exercises you can reach Gary at garyrue@bellsouth.net There are 50+ more pages of Gary's posts categorized at the Home Page of Exercises of the Day by Gary Rue. Click here and enjoy.

First and Second Defender
Defending a Turned Player

     This is a series on the progression of a training session on the first and second defender. It is designed for U16, but could be tailored for younger players. The first defender is the player that pressures the attacker with ball. The second defender is the defender(s) that provide immediate support to the first defender, and will take the attacker if the first defender is beat on the dribble.

      In this article we will discuss how the first defender deals with an attacker that has just received the ball and turned to face the defender.

• Setup: 
  grids of 10x20 are setup with 4 players per grid, two on each
  endline. On one end line is an attacker and a defender. At the other endline, one of the players is a server. The attacker checks to server receiving the pass about the midpoint and turns. The defender starts his close down at the time the pass is made (delay until the attacker's first touch if the attacker has trouble receiving and turning quick enough). The attacker tries to beat the defender on the dribble.
  
• Coaching point:
  The defender must understand when the attacker has his back to the defender, this is a better pressure situation than when the attacker is facing the defender. If the defender cannot close down quick enough to prevent the turn, the defender must not fall into the trap of over committing, just because the attacker seems to be in a vulnerable state. An attacker that has just turned may be balanced and able to go in any direction. The defender must go into a balanced state as well when the attacker turns, inching into closer defending range with little shuffle steps, ready to react in any direction.
  
        If the attacker does not keep the ball close on the turn, one of the better defensive moves is the shielding step. The defender should step between the ball and the attacker (not touching the ball) with the lead foot (e.g., left foot); pivot on that foot bringing the right foot around and between ball and defender; the defender then plays the ball with the left foot as the attacker is shielded from the ball.
  
  Later!
  
  Gary Rue
  garyrue@bellsouth.net

First and Second Defender
Close Down

        This is a series on the progression of a training session on the first and second defender. It is designed for U16, but could be tailored for younger players. The first defender is the player that pressures the attacker with ball. The second defender is the defender(s) that provide immediate support to the first defender, and will take the attacker if the first defender is beat on the dribble.

In this article we will discuss the close down of the first defender.

• Setup: 
  grids of 10x20 are setup with 4 players per grid, alternating 1v1 battles.
  
• 1v1 (close down focus)
  the first step is to establish pressure and containment from the first defender. Ball is played from one endline to player at the other endline. The passer immediately closes down the receiver. Each player tries to cross their opponent's endline with the ball.
  
• Coaching Points:
  The close down is the first and perhaps the most important part of the 1v1 battle. It is the means in which a player puts pressure on the attacker with ball. This pressure needs to be immediate and should start to force the attacker's next play to be predictable. The pressure can be one of presence, physical conflict, delaying or guiding.
  
  The defender uses the time when the ball is not under the attacker's control to move to the attacker that will be receiving. By going at top speed during this period, the defender can sometimes beat or challenge the receiver for the ball. Hopefully, the defender will at least be close enough to cause the attacker to worry about losing the ball due to a bad reception. The further away the defender is from the attacker when the ball is received, the more control the attacker has over the situation.
  
  Assuming the defender cannot get close enough to challenge for or intercept the ball, the next phase of the close down is crucial. This is where the defender prepares for the attacker's first touch. Just prior to the attacker touching the ball, the defender stops his sprint and goes into a side-on stance. That is, the defender chooses a side of the attacker he wants to pressure, then turns sideways so that he forcing the attacker towards the direction he is facing.
  
  The side-on stance does a couple of things. First it takes the defender out of his sprint and puts him in a balanced stance. An attacker can easily touch a ball past a defender that is running at him as the defender cannot change directions easily in a sprint. Next, the stance turns the defender so that he can quickly change directions back in the opposite direction, the obvious direction the attacker wants to go. Lastly, the stance allows the defender to guide the attacker in the preferred direction of the defender.
  
  The stance should be evenly balanced on both feet with a slight lean towards the back foot. Any lean to the lead foot would be the defender off balanced if the attacker does go forward. The defender must not let the attacker get by him. Depending upon the attacker's speed, quickness and skill level and the defenders speed and ability, the general rule of thumb is to be at an arm's length from the attacker. This puts the attacker under pressure and is not too close to allow the attacker to get by. Slower defenders may want to be about a step further back in delaying situations.
  
  If the defender is still too far away from the attacker when he has gone side-on, the defender can shuffle closer, keeping the weight balanced or on the back foot, until proper defending distance is reached.
  
  In the next article, we will discuss defending the turning attacker.
  
  Later!
  
  Gary Rue
  garyrue@bellsouth.net

First and Second Defender
Double Team

• Setup:
  Grids of 10x20 are setup with 4 players per grid, two on each endline. On one end line is an attacker and two defenders. At the other endline, one of the players is a server. The attacker checks to server receiving the pass about the midpoint of the grid. The defenders do not move until the pass from the server. As the first defender closes down, the second defender supports the first defender from some distance which the coach establishes.
  
• Coaching Points: 
  Initially the first defender should "stand-up" the attacker; that is, slow him down to a stand-still with the second defender in support. The first defender should guide/shepherd the attacker towards the second defender. When the second defender recognizes that the attacker has been neutralized (to some extent), he can start moving in for the double team. If possible, both defenders should lock down the attacker at the same time. Body contact by both defenders is more a probability than a  possibility. They must NOT allow the attacker to split them with the ball, either pass or dribble. It is important that if the attacker can push the ball pass the defenders, that the attacker is not allowed to follow the ball. This is done by a positioning step across the attacker's path with the far leg as the defender turns toward the ball. 
       There are two ways the support defender can come into the double team. 
        First, the pressuring defender can force the attacker towards the second defender where the second defender moves into the attacker straight on. This is more useful in the center of the field. When the ball is along the touchline, the second defender can tell the first defender to take away the line, meaning to not allow the attacker to dribble past him down the touch line. The second defender, then moves in from the side. 
       Note, the double team cannot be as effective if the first defender forces the ball wide and the second defender is towards the middle. Watch for this condition to arise.
       A very important variation to this exercise is the recovering second defender. Change the exercise to put the second defender on the endline with the server. Delay the second defender's entrance until the attacker  first touches the ball. Double teaming from behind can be more of a  surprise tactic, instead of a well developed double team. However, after  the first attempt at dislodging ball, the two defenders need to regroup into a coordinated team.
  
  Later!
  Gary Rue
  garyrue@bellsouth.net

First and Second Defender 2v2

        This is the last of a series on the progression of a training session for the first and second defender.  It is designed for U16, but could be tailored for younger players.  The first defender is the player that pressures the attacker with ball.  The second defender is the defender(s) that provides immediate support to the first defender, and will take the attacker if the first defender is beat on the dribble.

In this article we will discuss the 2v2.

• Setup:
  Grids of 10x20 are setup with 4 players per grid, two on each endline.  On one end line is an attacker and two defenders.  At the other endline, one of the players is a server.  The attacker checks to server receiving the pass about the midpoint of the grid.  The server moves into play as the second attacker.  The defenders do not move until the pass from the server.  (Note, this can change to marking the receiving attacker from the start).  The size of the grid can be gradually increase is space is too restrictive and the defense is too successful.
  
• Coaching Points:
  The second defender now must provide first defender support and mark the second attacker.  Once the pass is made to the supporting attacker, the transition from second defender to first and from first to second is critically important.  The first defender should be encouraged to continue to maintain his mark on his man while dropping back to support the new first defender.
  
  Tactical defensive adjustments start to develop.  Attacking concepts such as overlaps, wall passes, takeovers, double passes, and drops and spin will force the defenders to react as a team and not individuals.  Some possible defensive solutions are:
  
  • Overlap - the first defender takes away the passing angle to the second attacker by sliding to that side.  The second defender has the decision to
    follow the overlap run (by running behind the first defender) or moving into a double as the first defender is now forcing the attacker that way.
    
  • Take-over - as the two attackers cross, the defenders communicate a switch to keep from crossing themselves.  Each defender is to pick up the other attacker.  The first defender (who is the closest) may want to step into the path of the new attacker running across.  If there is a take-over, then attacker control will probably not be long-lived.
    
  • Wall-pass - the first defender is the key as he must turn with and into the first on the pass, moving downfield with the attacker.  The second defender who should have been positioned between the two attackers anyway, can help out by closing down the wall player from the inside, effectively taking away that angled pass.
    
  • Drop and spin - this is defended just like the wall-pass; however, if there is no defender to pressure the drop player and the second defender is in an adequate support position, then the coach may want to practice the second defender asking the first defender to close down the drop as the second defender picks up the initial attacker.
    
  • Double pass - though this is very similar to the drop and spin, the first defender needs to stay with the initial attacker.  The second attacker is moving forward quickly in a double pass situation.  The first defender would not be able to get to this player quick enough.
    

         The series of exercises can be moved to a much larger field, especially when the second defender is added.  Large goals or small goals can be in place to give the exercise some variety and interest.  The coach can change the setup in numerous ways.  For instance the service can come from a different angle or the defenders must start from different positions or be delayed different times.  By putting the exercise in appropriate parts of the actual field, the coach can emphasize the different techniques to be used in that situation.

Later!

Gary Rue
garyrue@bellsouth.net